“I was married not long after that.” His eyes misted, and he turned away to hide it. “We’d made big plans. We were both of a mind for a large family. Lynn Anne was even carrying our first when I went away to Indianapolis on business. But while I was away, Nathan came home. She didn’t realize it wasn’t me, not until . . .” His voice cracked. The memories were vivid, even after so many years. “When I came back a couple of nights later, I found her waiting for me. In our bed! Lord God, laying her to rest was the hardest thing I have ever done. Ever completed, at least. Aw, but you were with me then, weren’t you, Lord? It was with His hand on my shoulder that I hunted down Nate’s other victims, his servants, and I killed them all, and then I found him too and he begged and pleaded for me not to destroy him then and there, and . . . And before God, I could not carry it through. We were . . . are twins. Despite it all, there has always been that bond between us, that damning tie. I mean, he was dark, evil. He had murdered my wife. But somehow, deep down, I still loved him. I imagine it’s difficult to understand how two brothers can hate so well yet love so much.”

Stiles said nothing. Bean continued the questioning. “So instead you walled him up in the basement.”

Bailey nodded. “What else could I do? I couldn’t just let him go, not after what he’d done to Lynn Anne. But I couldn’t destroy him either. So I imprisoned him in the basement, and then I ran as far and as fast as I could. And I tried to forget. I went to Chicago, and then to the coast, and finally to Europe. I ran for forty years, afraid to come home, afraid to face myself, what I’d done. But always, down deep, I knew it was up to me. It was my responsibility. That was why I established a trust to take care of the house over all those years, and it’s what made me come back in the long run. But I didn’t want to be connected to that place or even that name. So I took George Bailey from a movie, and I moved back to town and I tried to work up the courage to finish the job, once and for all. But while I stammered and stalled, the years slipped by. I went out there maybe a hundred times, but I could never get past the basement door. I could feel him down there. Waiting.